» 'WikiLeaks' founder has 'blood of soldiers on his hands', says Mullen

'WikiLeaks' founder has 'blood of soldiers on his hands', says Mullen

Published: Friday, July 30, 2010, 15:41 [IST]

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Washington, July 30 (ANI): United States has asked for FBI's help to inquiry into the leaking of more than 90,000 classified military records on the Afghan war by 'WikiLeaks' website, and accused its founder Julian Assange of having "blood ... on his hands."

"Mr. Assange can say whatever he likes about the greater good he thinks he and his source are doing, but the truth is they might already have on their hands the blood of some young soldier or that of an Afghan family," Fox News quoted Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, as saying.

The US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said that he had called FBI Director Robert Mueller to deal with this issue, and claimed that the documents published online on Sunday, were potentially dangerous for US troops and allies, and an "aggressive investigation" would determine how the leaks occurred.

"The battlefield consequences of the release of these documents are potentially severe and dangerous for our troops, our allies and Afghan partners, and may well damage our relationships and reputation in that key part of the world," Gates said.

The FBI would presumably handle aspects of the investigation that involve civilians outside the Defense Department, and the Justice Department could bring charges in federal court.

Meanwhile, Assange agreed that the files offered an insight into U.S. tactics, and said that it is not his job to look into the national security concerns.

"It is not our role to play sides for states. States have national security concerns, we do not have national security concerns," he said.

The security breach has cautioned the Pentagon, which is now tightening its rules for handling classified material in war zones. (ANI)